2 charged in Livonia carjacking of woman, 88

A man and a woman have been charged in a carjacking Tuesday of an 88-year-old woman in Livonia, officials said.

Jason Malinas, 38, of Sterling Heights and Jessica St. Clair, 41, of Wayne were charged Thursday with carjacking, unarmed robbery and stealing a financial transaction device, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. Both were arraigned in the 16th District Court in Livonia. Bond was set at $2 million each. 

Carjacking is a felony punishable by up to life in prison. Unarmed robbery, a felony, is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Authorities accuse Malinas and St. Clair of attacking the victim at about 4 p.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of a Walmart on Plymouth Road in Livonia.

Police said the victim had parked her 2017 Ford Escape and walked to get a shopping cart. Malinas approached the woman from behind and allegedly tried to snatch her purse, causing her to fall. Police said he hit the woman in the head and she attempted to fight him off with her cane.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Woman, 88, carjacked in Livonia; suspects arrested

Meanwhile, police said, the attacker's female accomplice got into the passenger side of the victim's vehicle.

The assailant then got into the vehicle and both suspects fled the scene, nearly running over the victim who was lying on the ground, officials said. 

A witness followed the suspects but lost track of the vehicle near Joy Road and Beech Daily, according to authorities.

Police searched the area and found the unoccupied vehicle near Joy and Telegraph, officials said.

A Livonia police officer arrested the pair at about 11 p.m. in the same area, they said.

Police also recovered the victim's purse containing her identification and credit cards, authorities said.

A probable-cause conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday before Judge Kathleen McCann in 16th District Court.  

cramirez@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @CharlesERamirez